A Visitor Named Sandy

50 Plus Knots Wind Courtesy of Sandy

Cliff (The Buccanneer)

The Pearl and I (and Kluane of course) had an unwelcome visitor, Sandy.  That's Hurricane Sandy now bearing down on New Jersey, New York and many more states that may not feel so new in the coming days.  Before I continue, let's wish everyone well in the coming days.

The photo above shows our "protected" anchorage in the grip of winds reaching 50-60 knots. We were very lucky to have been protected from the 20-30 foot seas that raged in the off shore waters during Sandy's passage.  In reality, we were never closer than 150 miles to Sandy's center, but with a storm this size, tropical storm winds reached out for over 400 miles!

As Sandy approached, we decided to remain on board and do our best to protect ourselves (of course) and to protect our floating home, Kluane.  Working for two days we stripped sails, canvas, BBQ grills and anything else that was likely to blow away.  To secure Kluane we opted for a two anchor setup that worked well.  At no time did we drag (dragging at anchor is a huge drag) or break free.  There was one smaller sailboat that did break loose.  With luck and hard work, the captain was able to re secure himself and his vessel.

With the storm well past us (we are in Lake Worth, West Palm Beach), the wind continues to blow 20-25 knots.  Normally this wind would keep us on our toes.  Presently, we are relaxing, eating pizza and enjoying the relative calm.

FYI - if you have specific questions, please let me/us know.  I love boats, sailing, weather - anything to do with cruising.  I could go on (and will) about anything that interests you.  Just let me know.

Thanks for being concerned.  Thanks for tuning in.  Know that we miss you all a great deal and think about you daily.

A Humble and Tired Buccaneer,
Cliff

Jennifer (The Pearl)

First off I want to CONGRATULATE my sister, Sarah and her fiance Brian- they are engaged! I love you both!

Yesterday Buccaneer and I walked to MacArthur State Beach Park about 1.5 miles away to check out the ocean.  What did we find?  Much of the beach has been taken out to sea, garbage in the form of wood from docks/decks with twisted 12" inch stainless steel hardware, plastic trash, a canister of Freon and a 2" line from very large ship.  The waves were breaking 1/2 mile out.  I learned the bigger the wave the farther out it breaks- so maybe they were 20' feet tall!  I tried to capture the size of the waves, know they were HUGE and very powerful- a cauldron if you will!  Over the past 2 months I have learned a lot about weather, knowing experience is the best teacher, but not knowing I would get such a real education.  Tides, wave size and timing, wind direction and strength, swell, barometric pressure and of course, how a tropical depression becomes a hurricane.  Overall, I have learned to respect Mother Nature- she is strong, powerful, beautiful and does not discriminate.

Buccaneer and I are in a local pizza shop watching the footage from New Jersey, New York etc- my hope is that folks have been listening and have prepared for the storm.  Whether she is a frankenstorm or not, she is to be respected.  Be safe and be good neighbors.

Thankful for My Incredible Captain (and Love) and All the Good Thoughts from Family & Friends!
The Pearl

Buccaneer on the deck that leads to the beach- notice the handrail is below his knee full of sand

The McArthur Beach State Park Beach on Sunday

The wave action- notice the mutiple layers of "crash"

Spoke to Soon

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Sandy kept us indoors for another day, proving what a massive storm she is. One of the benefits of being captive on a boat is I have had plenty of time to read! Cruisers, as we are known, are a group of avid readers. Buccaneer has told me about how common book exchanges are among the cruising community! I'm very excited! I just finished the Stieg Larsson series. Buccaneer finished book 2 before I finished book 3- desperate times call for desperate measures (see photo). I guess I'm getting less attached to the actual book itself. This is a blessing, I only have so much room on my book shelf!

Happy to be reading and happy to have survived my first brush with a hurricane!

The Pearl

Tropical Depression Sandy Moves on

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Sandy has passed West Palm and now is headed N to create some interesting weather for the North East Coast. She's a serious storm- be prepared!

Nearly 48 hours of howling wind, rocking motion on the boat, on and off pouring (sometimes pounding) rain and distracted sleep make for a tired Captain and First Mate. The winds have mellowed from the 50+ gusts to 25-30 knots. We are both looking forward to a good nights rest and a more "normal" day.

Sandy has taught me a bunch of things, but most importantly how important it is to be prepared. We took the time to find a protected spot, to set out our anchors, listen to the weather, prepare the boat and be rested for the days ahead. Thanks to all that sent kind, safe thoughts our way- much appreciated!

Over the next few days we will watch the weather and get a better idea of how hard the Bahamas were hit.

Speaking of the Bahamas, Betsy had a great question! For some boats, say Tiger's yacht or a big sport fish, who travel at 20-30 knots the passage to the Bahamas from Florida is a "hop". For us, and many sailboats, we travel the 55 miles at 5-6 knots. This comes to 10-11 hours to arrive in West End, Bahamas! The passage to the Bahamas involves a crossing of the gulf stream- one of the worlds fastest currents (think 1000x the Nile). Due to the travel time for a sail boat of our size, we need the right winds to sail and the right weather window to have a safe journey. Keep the questions coming!

Off to dream land- clear water and beaches are on my mind!

The Pearl

Goodbye Stuart & Hello WPB!

Jennifer (The Pearl)

We left our slip in Stuart, Florida on Friday and sailed to Peck Lake. Peck Lake is a very cool anchorage that allowed us to anchor in a protected spot and take the dinghy in to shore to the beach! We had 2 fun filled sunny days! Sun, yoga, walks on the beach and time to read! Friday night we were treated to one of mother natures magnificent shows- non-stop lightening. We were on the fringes of a big storm and could see lightening every direction we looked. Did you know that Florida leads the nation in lightening strikes? NM is second.

Today we headed further south to West Palm Beach. We are tucked in an anchorage in Lake Worth. As we traveled South the landscape along the ICW changed dramatically- opulence is a word that a guide book used and I think conveys the atmosphere quite nicely. I've never seen so many mansions in pastel yellow!

We are poised to hop over to the Bahamas, but will not do so until mother nature provides the window. We are watching local weather and Tropical Storm Sandy.

We just learned there is a boat show in Fort Lauderdale- might be a good place to explore until Mother Nature gives us the go!

Practicing Patience & My Knots,
The Pearl

Sunrise to Sunset

Cliff (The Buccaneer)

The sun rises and sets with alarming speed these days.  I often find myself staring at the water and wondering what awaits us both on our voyage - and in our lives.  While the journey we have embarked upon isn't always easy (boats, especially old boats, are a ton of work), I do believe that every second holds an opportunity to learn something new, meet someone with a rich story, and become a better person than I previously managed.  Though Kluane is small with limited space, I do hope to amass memories to share with my family and friends.  Until then, let's sit and enjoy this sunrise...or is this a sunset?

Thinking Especially of You,

Cliff (Buccaneer)      

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Here I am studying the Northern Bahamas.  You might be thinking, they have been away for over a month and they are not in the Bahamas yet!?!  To make matters worse, the Bahamas are only 60 miles away from West Palm Beach.  So what's up?  Just like any big adventure, there is planning, prep and a shake down (remember all the trips to the Crest preparing for Iron Horse?)  Buccaneer and I have shopped, installed, cleaned, shopped, tightened, loosened, cleaned, lubed, tied up just about everything on our mighty vessel- she is ship shape and ready.  I have been reading about the Bahamas- Skipper Bob is the bomb!  The gulf stream is a serious crossing- and we are ready!  I have highlighted islands (they are called Cays, say Keys) in the guides for swimming, snorkeling, shelling, marinas to do laundry, trails to hike, the most beautiful beaches to practice yoga at... you get the idea!

I am super excited to be heading down to WPB this Wednesday to wait for a weather window to cross the gulf stream with my Captain to the clear, clean waters of the Bahamas!  

PS See the air conditioner in the companionway, it's history for the rest of our adventure!

The Pearl

Serious Research!

Provisioning

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Ahoy! Buccaneer and I are anchored at North Fork River in Stuart, Florida. There has been a gusty Northern wind causing the ICW to a bit boisterous. We are tucked safely in the lee of the land.

During our first month here I have been provisioning the boat with food, toiletries, paper goods and items to make Kluane more comfortable. Betsy asked for more photos of where and how we store items in a small space- Thanks Betsy! Under both the port and starboard settees in the salon there are compartments for cans, packages and jars. The posts and books I have read guided me to buy our favorite American products- peanut butter, pizza crusts, teas, crackers, protein powder. Eggs, flour, rice, beans- simple staples will be available most places. I created a spreadsheet (yes seriously, Mom) to track what is in each compartment. This will help manage our stores along the way! Our eating has changed- for the absolute better- since being away. We eat most- I'd say 99%-of meals in. Last night we had pasta with garlic chicken, zucchini, peppers and onions with salad. Yum! As we use items, I write them down and when we plan a shopping run- we put the dingy in the water and walk to the grocery once on shore. I am enjoying the time to cook and keeping track of our favorite recipes.

More to come on the dinghy and the refrigerator in future posts.

Time for lunch!

The Pearl

Drifters, Drunks & Derelicts

Kluane's drifter...giving the WRW jersey a run for its money!

Cliff (Buccaneer)

The universe has a sense of humor. Proof positive comes in the form of the high-visibility yellow drifter (a parachute like sail for light winds) pictured above. The Pearl and I ordered this sail, custom, to compliment the Fighting Lady Yellow color that graces Kluane's hull. It would appear that we just showed up to the Presidential Inauguration with spinach in our teeth and an escapee nose hair. So much for the subtle use of gentle pastels.

There is a saying that all who wander are not lost. I would add that all who drift are not drunks living on derelicts. Allowing the wind to provide direction is a lost art, an art that I will attempt to master in the coming year. Simply put, motoring in a sailboat sucks. A three cylinder diesel engine is noisy, stinky, and just slightly less complicated than a Rubik Cube painted by Picasso. Motoring in a sailboat also lacks imagination, motivation and for too many, the true desire to work in harmony with nature, rather than subdue, tame and eventually, defeat nature.

With rain setting in, it's time to wander back to the boat (The Pearl and I have been slamming margaritas at Pirates Cover since 10:30 am), put off any and all boat chores, and fire up the motor as we seek to find paradise, just upwind of our current heading.

Lost In Thoughts of You,

Cliff (The Buccaneer) 

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Flora, Fauna & Family

Without our usual form of exercise at our fingertips, Buccaneer & I have been walking most mornings around Port Salerno and have learned a lot about the South Florida flora and fauna.  From wild parakeets, to lizards, to ospreys, to hawks, to cactus (yes, cactus), to bright flowers, to plants with exposed roots, to a yellow and orange grasshopper- simply put we are in awe like kids in a candy store.  As a desert rat who walked 10 feet to work, 20 feet to the car, 200 feet to the mailbox- I rarely performed one of the most basic forms of exercise since the beginning of time. Times are a changing! Today we walked about 5 miles and did our errands to boot!  I am excited to become an endurance walker, be green and “see” more of the places I visit.

A few days ago my parents & I went to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center.  Here we took a guided tour through a Florida swamp, watched the lagoon fish & sea turtles have lunch and touched rays, conch and other sea creatures!  If you are ever in the area, it is a must see!  Above is a photo of a nurse shark (the docent says they are friendly, but they do have teeth) and a photo of a cluster of red mangroves.  Interesting enough, the mangroves leaves are like tea leaves- they stain the water!  As the mangrove grows a branch upward, it shoots a shoot downward from the branch to support its growth. And, they germinate their seeds before they are dropped to the ground- very cool! Do you know why? Plant nerd alert! 

Buccaneer and I had a great visit with Mom and Dad.  We love to show off our “baby” Kluane!  Thanks for the visit!

Much Love, 

The Pearl

PS Stop and smell the flowers

Making of A Fishy

Jennifer (The Pearl)

My experience with Florida is limited.  I've been here once before, with my best friend on a holiday and it rained most the time (MP, remember the sandals with the bling, we were cool before our time).  My only other exposure is through the thousands of WNYers who escape the cold Buffalo winter to the sunshine state to up their serotonin levels.  Since we arrived it has been hot (80-90's) and HUMID.  On the upside, this desert girl has totally turned a new leaf, or at least opening a new blossom.  When in Buffalo, I had frequently driven Erie, PA to go to the beach.  Now I feel totally lucky to be able to go to the Ocean!  Quite a change from a Great Lake, but both beautiful in their own way.  There are dozens of beaches within a stones throw here.  Cliff and I have taken a liking to Salerno Beach.  During our first month, the waves, undertow and rip currents were not conducive to a new swimmer, so I walked the shore, watched Cliff ride the waves and enjoyed the beach from my blanket.  Nadine, who I hear is a hurricane (again) had been sending weather our way causing the rougher waves.  This weekend as we arrived to the beach, I saw the yellow flag waving in the slight breeze!  Yah!  Cliff took me past the wave crash zone and I fell in love!  I experienced for the first time how to jump up with a small wave and how to dive under it (amazingly still).  I padded around, practiced my swimming and just enjoyed being in the water.  Thanks to Cristina for all the lessons and support!  The warm salt water gives me a clean, natural feeling.  So much so, I totally forget about the sand in my shorts!  

Surf's Up Dudes and Dudettes!